This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.
View from the Hill – January 2024
Grange Strong T-shirt Available
This National Grange’s #GrangeStrong shirt fundraiser will run online only through February 23. Orders will be delivered in mid-March in time for Grange Month. These items and colors were the top choices in our recent survey available on social media and the Patrons Chain.
February Events
There’s no reason to get Cabin Fever–here are some Grange Events around the state for you.
- February 1, 2024, Piscataquis Pomona Meeting at 7 pm at Valley Grange Hall. Contact Bill Bemis FMI.
- February 2, 2024, Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
- February 3-4, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
- February 7, 2024, Join the National Grange and Rural Minds for an introduction to the Rural Mental Health Resilience Program. Register at http://grange.biz/RMHR
- February 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
- February 17, 2024, Junior Grange Meeting at Danville Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
What’s your Grange doing? Don’t forget to submit your events!
“207” to Stay for Now
Note: This might count as trivia, but it could be the basis of a Lecturer’s Program!
The announcement by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in mid-October that Maine would be able to retain its only area code may be welcome news to many who think of “207” as more than just Maine’s area code. The PUC said the North American Numbering Plan Administrator extended the time before a new area code would be needed in Maine from 2029 to 2032.
The reason some may feel 207 is more than just an area code may reside in the fact that the entire State of Maine was one of the original 86 Numbering Plan Areas when AT&T implemented the continent-wide area code system in 1947. Through the former Bell System, a network of regional telecommunications operators, 77 area codes were assigned across the U.S. that year for automated toll calling while the Canadian provinces were given nine.
Maine was one of 40 states and provinces to have a single area code when the original plan was established. Today, Maine is one of only 11 that have been able to hold onto that distinction, joining Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. Idaho, which comes right after Maine with its 208 area code, was the last to lose that status when they added, or “overlaid,” area code 986 in 2017.
With its single area code, Maine residents have been able to keep using the standard seven-digit format. In states where additional area codes have been added, callers are required to use all 10 digits.
The fact that 207 has remained Maine’s only area code for 76 years is perhaps why it has become ubiquitous with the state. From appearing on t-shirts and hats to “207 Recipes,” the “Best of the 207” and even its own newscast brand, it has become synonymous with Maine’s identity and heritage.
That is, except for the small village of Estcourt Station in Big Twenty Township in Aroostook County, which is also the northernmost community in the U.S. east of the Great Lakes. They get their telephone service from Canada and are included in Quebec’s 418 area code.
It is estimated that North America will run out of area codes by 2051.
The Patrons Chain 1-19-2024
Articles in this edition include:
- Find the fun as a leader
- What makes you… you?
- Grant money still available for raising awareness about ACP
- Grange Foundation’s Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship
- Left Hand Grange Rings in the New Year
- Register for National Grange/Rural Minds introduction to “Rural Mental Health Resilience” program
- Register for the Virtual Legislative Fly-In
- Successful kick-off to Fellowship First Friday includes soup-er recipe swap
- Nearly 21 Million Children Expected to Receive New Grocery Benefit This Summer
- Grange Supply Store: People, Pride & Progress book package
- Grange Member Benefit: Nationwide Pet Insurance
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t necessarily mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above. Effective 2024, we will only maintain one year of issues on the MSG website.
New Ventures Maine Free Courses
The University of Maine at Augusta announced free online courses provided through the New Ventures Maine Program.
According to the University, Mainers looking to advance their economic mobility — from building a savings account to a new business — can access free classes and coaching through the University of Maine at Augusta’s New Ventures Program.
Upcoming free online classes include:
- Improving Your Credit Score (Offered January 30 and March 13);
- Making Career Choices (Offered January 10 and March 21);
- Effective Résumé Writing (Offered February 6 and March 28);
- Building Your Savings (Offered February 6 and March 20); and
- Budgeting Basics (Offered January 23 and March 6).
For a complete list of New Ventures courses and to register, click here.
Technology Tip
Here’s a discouraging word! As technology advances (including AI or artificial intelligence), everyone benefits–including the bad guys!
Stay vigilant with messages you receive.
As the bad guys discover new technology spam emails and text messages are on the increase. Think twice before hitting “unsubscribe.” Unless the email is from a legitimate organization (think commonly known names and national companies), do NOT “unsubscribe” by clicking the link in the email. If you “unsubscribe,” not only will most spammers not honor it, but they will also have confirmation that yours is a working email address. That makes it very saleable to other spammers. Using the “unsubscribe” link may actually increase the amount of spam emails you receive.
This morning (like most mornings), I received several bogus invoices, a few order confirmations for things I didn’t order, and one email allegedly from MSG Sherry asking for assistance with a matter of the utmost importance. Some junk gets automatically filtered, but typically the delete button gets quite a workout!
The best way to handle spam email is to use that handy-dandy delete button and not let it bother you. Don’t waste your time and energy!
Notes from National – January 2024
- February 7 – Join the National Grange and Rural Minds for an introduction to the Rural Mental Health Resilience Program. Register at http://grange.biz/RMHR
- March 18 – Join the National Grange Virtual Legislative Fly-In. Hear from Grange leaders, representatives from Congress, and issues partners about what the Grange is working on for all of rural America. Register at http://grange.biz/flyin2024
- Please subscribe to the National Grange’s Good Day! magazine. Just $16 a year gets you access to our print or digital subscription. Learn more about the magazine at http://www.nationalgrange.org/goodday or the digital issue at http://www.issuu.com/grangegoodday. The January issue is in mailboxes across the country, and additional copies are available through the Grange Store.
- Subscribe to the Patrons Chain and View from the Hill at http://www.nationalgrange.org/subscribe. These newsletters are released every Friday, containing information about National Grange programs, events, and more.
- Submit an article about your Grange’s events to Philip Vonada at pvonada@nationalgrange.org. Patrons Chain articles can be sent at any point, and Good Day! deadline is on February 29th.
- Are there topics you would like to see covered in a future Zoom from a National Grange staff member, department, or officer? Please let us know! We’re always working to ensure our topics are in line with what our members want or need to hear from us.
- The National Grange Social Media Calendar is available. This is intended to be a guide for State and Community Granges of topics/events that may be used to enhance social media. By no means is it a suggestion to post ALL of these things, but if you’re looking to get out of a rut or expand your social media reach. This could also be a great resource for Grange Lecturers/Program Directors who are looking for new programming ideas.
- Many National Grange events have been recorded and archived – if there’s something you missed and would like to see, please visit the National Grange YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/nationalgrange.
- Follow National Grange on Social Media! We’re on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and more!
Notes from National are gleaned from an email provided by Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director.
Maine’s Public Law Library
The services and resources of the Maine State Law & Legislative Reference Library are free and available to all Maine citizens. Located on the second floor of the Maine State House in Augusta, the Law Library is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services include public access to the Internet and other digital resources and limited word processing.
Walk-in patrons are welcome, but Mainers from Kittery to Madawaska can request information by phone, email or U.S. mail. You can also visit their web page here. While the library cannot interpret the law or provide legal advice, staff can help with legal and legislative reference assistance with its complete collection of current and historical Maine legislative materials dating all the way back to 1820. The library also has information about federal codes and statutes as well as all U.S. states.
Exploring Traditions – January 2024
Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life
What is “ample form?”
By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist
“By command of the Worthy Master/President, I proclaim this Grange opened in ample form for promoting the welfare of our country and of mankind, and for advancing the interests, elevating the characters, and increasing the influence of all Patrons of Husbandry, by properly transacting our business and by exemplifying our principles in Faith, in Hope, in Charity and with Fidelity.”
Overseer’s Declaration, opening the Grange
A few of us are soon to engage in an event that will have great meaning. A short description is that we will be honoring a Grange member who is completing his eightieth year of Grange Membership. Since he’s currently confined to a hospice facility, we will be visiting him there. He loves his Grange Membership. His bed is surrounded with certificates and Grange memorabilia.
Either by default or self-appointment, I am in charge of this event. My goal is to do something “meaningful and memorable.” Since I know he’s not been able to participate in meetings for some time, I thought we might bring a meeting to him. Or at least something resembling a meeting. Those attending have agreed to wear sashes; that’s a start.
My Grange instincts went into high gear, and I remembered the basic requirements of a meeting. That’s the nature and part of the value of ritual. “I’ll need a flag… a Bible…”
During these considerations, I keep hearing the words of the Overseer opening a Fourth Degree meeting. “In ample form.” We won’t be conducting official business at this meeting—we’ll be honoring a man who has lived the Grange Way of Life for nearly 80 years.
“Ample form” is mentioned more than once in the opening by both the Master/President and Overseer, but the overseer uses a different phrase when closing.
By command of the Worthy Master/President, I proclaim this Grange duly closed until again lawfully opened, in Faith, in Hope, in Charity, and with Fidelity.
Overseers Declaration, closing the Grange
Hmmm! Those who know me well are probably chuckling at the realization that I’m overthinking this. But at the same time, there is value in thinking about what can be habitual and ritual. Truthfully, I’d never noticed the difference in wording. So now I’m wondering if there’s a difference between “ample form” and “legally opened.”
For our upcoming event, I’ve decided we will open in ample form. I haven’t fully decided what that means yet, but I suspect it will include the Grange Salutation and some of the opening and closing rituals. We’re not expecting any Grange Police and I don’t think it will matter to our guest of honor if we’re not “lawfully opened.”
Lest there be confusion, I am not devaluing the ritual. If anything, this is a plea for perspective. It’s also a plea for critical thinking. We should conduct business lawfully. But what constitutes ample form if we’re committing to “…promoting the welfare of our country and of mankind, and for advancing the interests, elevating the characters, and increasing the influence of all Patrons of Husbandry, and by exemplifying our principles in Faith, in Hope, in Charity, and with Fidelity.”
See what I did there?
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.